Device for holding a workpiece, tool or the like on the top of a bench or table



Oct. 8, 1968 o. KENNE 3,404,878

DEVICE FOR HOLDIN W PIECE. TOOL OR THE LIKE ON THE TOP OF A B H TABLE Filed Jan. 6

FIG.1

I N V EN TOR 50,4 A/S flax 44 7/ /0162? K AWA A BY }m r JWW lJnited States Patent Oflice DEVICE FOR HOLDING A WORKPIECE, TOOL OR THE LIKE ON THE TOP OF A BENCH OR TABLE Frans Oskar Thure Kenne, Zornvagen 25, Bromma, Sweden Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,647 Claims priority, application Sweden, Jan. 29, 1965, 1,177/ 65 6 Claims. (Cl. 26991) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for a workpiece on a work bench comprises a screw-threaded bolt that extends vertically reciprocably but nonrotatably up through the bench and projects above the bench. A disk is screw-threadedly received on the bolt and is recessed into the surface of the bench. The disk may be rotated to raise or lower the bolt, and a screwthreaded nut or clamp carried by the upper end of the bolt clamps the workpiece between itself and the bench.

This invention relates to a device for holding a workpiece, tool or the like on the top of a bench or table. The invention also relates to a system for the same purpose and comprising a plurality of said devices.

For holding a workpiece, tool or the like on the top of a bench or table, clamps or screws are usually employed and secured to or in the top of the bench or table. However, such a device is clumsy and often time-wasting in operative because the clamps or screws first always have to be loosened when the work or the like is to be clamped.

The above inconveniences are eliminated by the device and system according to the present invention due to the fact that the device or system is always secured to the top of the bench or table and consequently is always at hand. In spite thereof the device or system when not in use is no obstacle on the top of the bench or table because in that case it is sunk into the top so that no part of the device or system extends above the plane of the bench or table. In its broadest aspect the invention is characterized by a threaded bolt which nonrevol-vably extends through the top of the bench or table from the underside thereof and is adapted to be lifted and lowered, by a revolvable disk which is screwed onto the bolt from the upper side of the top of the bench or table and sunk into said top on a level with the upper side thereof, said disk having a grip for a wrench or spanner for lifting or lowering the bolt by turning the disk, and by a nut adapted to be screwed onto the end of the bolt for clamping the work piece, tool or the like between the nut and the disk upon tightening of the nut.

The system for clamping a work piece, tool or the like is characterized in that a plate of, for instance, square shape and having a hole at each corner is attached below said top and that a device according to the invention is provided at each hole of the plate with the bolt extending through said hole.

In the annexed drawing, FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of the top of a bench provided with a simple embodiment of the device according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a similar cross-sectional view of a modified embodi ment, and FIG. 3 is a top view on a reduced scale of a plate adapted to be used in the system according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. -1, the top 1 of the bench or support has a hole for a bolt 2. The hole has an upper section 3 Patented Oct. 8, 1968 the diameter of which is slightly greater than the threaded portion of the bolt so that the bolt extends with a clearance through this section. The lower section 4 of the hole is shaped such that the head 5 of the bolt is displaceable therein without being revolvable. For instance, if the head of the bolt is square the lower section of the hole may be square in cross-section with the side of the square somewhat greater than the side of the bolt head. Consequently, if the bolt is introduced from below through the hole in the top of the bench it cannot be turned, but it can be displaced upwards or downwards. Screwed onto the bolt is a revolvable disk 6 which is sunk into the top of the bench on a level with the upper surface thereof. The disk is provided with a grip, such as recesses 7, for a wrench or spanner which facilitates turning of the disk. When the disk is turned the bolt will be lifted or lowered.

If a workpiece 8 or a tool or the like is to be firmly mounted on the top 1 of the bench the bolt 2 is lifted to its extreme limit by rotation of the disk 7 to such a height that the workpiece or the like can be clamped between the disk and a flanged nut 9 screwed onto the end of the bolt. When use of the device is not desired, nut 9 is removed from the bolt 2 and the disk 7 is rotated until the bolt 2 is below the top of the support 1.

FIG. 2 shows a modification in which a washer 10 is sunk in the top of the support and has an upwardly opening recess in which disk 6 is disposed. Screws 11 fix washer 10 in an upwardly opening recess in the top of the support.

If a tool or workpiece is to be firmly held on the top of a bench or table a plurality of attaching positions are usually required. An absolutely reliable attachment is obtained by the system according to the invention which comprises a metallic or plastic plate 13 which in the embodiment shown is of square shape and has a hole at each corner. The plate 13 is secured to the underside of the top 1 of the bench or table and is provided at each hole with a device according to FIG. 2. Each bolt 2 extends through the respective hole in the plate 13 and the corresponding hole 3 in the top of the bench or table. The non-revolvable tube 12 for the head of the bolt is secured as by screws to the underside of the plate 13. In this way a tool that previously has been secured to a metal sheet 8 or a workpiece 8 can be firmly held on the top -1 of the bench or table by means of four devices of the kind shown in FIG. 2.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for holding an object on top of a support, comprising a threaded bolt that extends nonrotatably through the top of the support from the underside thereof and is vertically reciprocable relative to the support, and a rotatable disk screwed onto the bolt on the upper side of the support and sunk into the top of the support on a level with the upper side thereof, said disk having a grip by which it may be rotated to raise or lower the bolt, the bolt having a length such that the bolt in a raised position extends through the disk a substantial distance above the disk.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a nut screwed onto the end of the bolt for clamping a said object between the nut and the disk upon tightening of the nut.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, and a washer having an upwardly opening recess into which said disk is sunk, said washer being sunk in the top of the support.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said support ha vin g a noncircular hole and said bolt having a noncircular head which is disposed in and prevented from turning by said noncircular hole.

5. Apparatus as claimed Cured below the support, the tube having a noncircular cross seetion and the bolt having a"noncircular head di's'-' posed in said tube and prevented from rotating by said 6. Apparatus as claimed claim 1, and a plate disposed below the support, anda plurality of assemblies of said threaded bolts and disks at. spaeedlocations on said plate. 1

in claim Land a tube s e- Rferncs'lCited 4 .QNFQD,. IAIE PI I ISHW 1,085,871 2/1914 Mendelssohn 269-43 1,313,732 8/1919 Ralfo 269--240 X 1,644,459 10/1927 Abbadessa 51-378 X 1,820,667 8/1931 Leyes 269243 X ROBERT c. RIORDON, Primary Examiner. J. F. MCKEOWN, Assistant Examiner. 

